The Pig Edge

The annual Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference will take place this year, kicking off on Tuesday the 13th of October in Cavan, and Wednesday the 14th of October in Tipperary. 

The event is a staple in the pig farming calendar and will once again bring together pig producers, stakeholders and members of the pig development department for a wide-ranging technical programme you won't want to miss. 

Featuring insightful talks and discussions from our guest speaker and pig department staff, this year's programme is brimming with the latest innovations, practical advice, and strategies to help you stay ahead. 

Plus, the conference, as always, is a great opportunity to catch up with fellow pig producers and the familiar faces in the pig department. 

So for this episode of The Pig Edge, we're joined by Ciaran Carroll, Teagasc’s Head of Pig Knowledge Transfer to explore what's in store for the event this year.

For more information go to:

https://teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/events/ 

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

The Teagasc Outlook 2026 Conference, which took place on December 2nd, is an event that brings together Teagasc specialists across the different sectors to review performance in 2025 and outlining the key expectations for 2026.

Representing the pig sector was Michael McKeon, Specialist with Teagasc’s Pig and Poultry Research and Knowledge Transfer Department with Michael presenting a detailed review of 2025, covering production, prices, costs, exports and profitability and the key factors shaping the year ahead.

And for the latest episode of The Pig Edge, Michael joins Amy Quinn to unpack all of this, explaining what happened in 2025, the major trends influencing the sector and he shares his outlook for Irish pig production as we move into 2026. 

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

We’re taking a closer look at recent markets trends and what we can expect as we move towards 2026 for this month’s Pig Edge podcast.

Joining Emer McCrum is Shane Callaghan, Procurement Officer with Rosderra Meats, who provides an update on current market conditions, gives an outlook for the year ahead and an overview of the new pig quality payment system. 

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

The Annual Teagasc Pig Farmer’s Conference will take place slightly earlier than usual this year on Tuesday 7th October in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Tipperary and Wednesday 8th October in the Farnham Estate, Cavan. 

The event, now in its 31st year, is a staple in the pig farming calendar and will once again bring together pig producers, stakeholders and members of the Pig Development Department for a wide-ranging technical programme you won’t want to miss. 

This year’s programme is brimming with the latest innovations, practical advice and strategies to help you stay ahead. Plus the Conference as always is a great opportunity to catch up with fellow pig producers and the familiar faces in the pig development department.

For this episode of the Pig Edge, we’re joined by Ciarán Carroll, head of Pig Knowledge Transfer to explore what’s in store for the event this year. 

For more information on the conference go to:

Teagasc Pig Farmers Conference – Tipperary

https://teagasc.ie/event/teagasc-pig-farmers-conference-2/

Teagasc Pig Farmers Conference – Cavan

https://teagasc.ie/event/teagasc-pig-farmers-conference/

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Teagasc’s, Louise Clarke, joins Emer McCrum on the latest Pig Edge to discuss the essential topic of achieving quality weaned pigs. 

We’ll explore the crucial early-life factors that impact successful weaning, and delve into practical advice on management, nutrition, and health all with a focus on raising strong piglets to improve overall herd productivity.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

On-farm incineration is a method of waste management that has gained growing attention in recent years and to learn more about it, on the latest Pig Edge, Emer McCrum is joined by Derek Carr from Addfield to give his insights into the regulatory framework, practical considerations and environmental implications of on-farm incineration, as well as its relevance to pig farming in Ireland.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

It’s that time of year again -  the 2024 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report is fresh off the press providing a fascinating insight into the Key Performance Indicators attained on farms across Ireland last year. 

The report provides the detailed performance analysis of the pig farms that participated in the Teagasc Profit Monitor (PM) recording system in 2024.

To delve into the results and analyse the trends in more detail we are joined on this episode of the Pig Edge by Specialised Pig Advisor, Ger McCutcheon. 

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

For this month’s Pig Edge podcast, we’re featuring highlights from a recent episode of the Tillage Edge focusing on the benefits of using pig slurry as an alternative to chemical fertilisers in tillage farming. 

Pig production is one of the main consumers of Irish cereals and the resulting slurry produced on units can be an important source of nutrients for tillage crops. 

Opportunities for greater co-operation between the two sectors, from diversifying cereal production to increased use of pig slurry on crops, can lead to a stronger bio-circular economy, with resultant economic benefits for both parties.

On this episode, Michael Hennessy, host and head of the Teagasc Crops Knowledge Department, was joined by Tillage Specialist ,Ciaran Collins, and our own Specialised Advisor, Michael McKeon, to discuss the various management considerations of utilising pig slurry on tillage farms. 

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Michael McKeon, Specialist Pig Advisor at Teagasc Moorepark, joins Ciarán Carroll for the latest episode of The Pig Edge with a review of pig and feed prices for 2024 and the outlook for 2025.

The Teagasc Outlook 2025, Economic Prospects for Agriculture, is available to view and download at: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

We're taking a look back on the careers and experiences of two long-time Teagasc pig experts on this month’s Pig Edge.  

Brendan Lynch, former Head of Department and Chief Pig Scientist, and Michael Martin, former Head of Department and Pig Specialist join Amy Quinn to talk about their careers.

From their early days in the pig industry to the pivotal moments that shaped their careers, Brendan and Michael offer first-hand insights into the major changes and challenges in Irish pig production, along with their proudest achievements. 

Join us as we uncover their thoughts on the past, present, and future of Ireland’s pig industry.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com